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Government incentives spur new wave of tourism investment in Iran
Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri announced Tuesday that a new wave of private investment is gathering pace in the country's tourism sector, saying government incentives, tax relief and easier hotel equipment imports are accelerating hospitality projects.
Speaking during a visit to a hotel project in central Tehran that is about 80% complete, Salehi-Amiri said the government had rolled out a package of incentives to remove barriers for investors and expand tourism infrastructure, CHTN reported.
"A fresh wave of investment has taken shape in the tourism industry," he said, adding that authorities have opened dedicated case files for investors to resolve project-specific obstacles across government agencies.
The minister said Tehran needs more internationally rated hotels to match its role as Iran's political, economic and cultural hub. Of the capital's 144 operating hotels, only a limited number are five-star properties, a capacity he said falls short of growing demand from business travelers, international visitors, exhibitions and major conferences.
He said the government has approved five key incentives to encourage private-sector investment, including allowing mixed-use tourism complexes, granting exemptions of up to 80% on certain municipal construction fees, deferring remaining charges for five years after projects begin operating, and permitting duty-free imports of 200 categories of hotel equipment.
"The development of accommodation infrastructure is a prerequisite for strengthening Iran's international tourism standing," Salehi-Amiri said, inviting investors to capitalize on the new support measures.
Highlighting the private sector's expanding role, he said more than 3,000 tourism projects are currently under development across the country, all financed by private investors. He described the trend as evidence of growing confidence in the industry's long-term potential.
Salehi-Amiri also called Tehran "the gateway" for many domestic and international travelers, saying visitors often form their first impression of Iran in the capital. Improving hotels, tourism services and visitor facilities, he said, will help showcase the country's historical and cultural attractions more effectively.
The minister added that the hotel under construction, expected to open before the end of the current Iranian year (March 20), incorporates architectural and artistic elements inspired by different parts of the Islamic world, creating what he described as "a distinctive cultural identity" for domestic and international guests.